Noob Questions

Sorry for sounding like a complete noob but i had couple questions about the NIKON D7000. I already have the camera and been using but i just got couple questions. I was wondering what the AE-L and AF-L buttons do? and what does it stand for? also there is 2 buttons on the front of the camera on says FN..what does that mean and do? and there is a button below that one which i thought was a the FOD (Field of Depth button) is that right cause i dont see it do anything other then clicking sound and making the image a bit darker...

Yeah, the depth of field button does what you're saying. The clicking is the aperture being made smaller, which lets in less light. I haven't ever found it very useful with the tiny viewfinders. Live view is better for checking depth of field.

AF-L: Autofocus lock
AE-L: Autoexposure lock

That button's behavior can be changed, but you can read the manual to find out what options you have. If you use the video, at least on the D90 the most useful thing for that button is to have it set to "AE-L (hold)" because then pressing it avoids having the camera make brightness adjustments during the video, which gets really distracting. The Fn button is assignable to almost anything.

I imagine they'd be very useful for doing bracketed HDR panoramas. But I like to switch the camera to manual focus/exposure instead for those.

And to the OP, read the manual. If you don't have time for that, just give it a good skim-read. You'll get a great idea of what the camera can do and how it can be configured.

Plus, over the next few months you'll find yourself saying "I remember I can set it to do <x>, which is perfect for the photographic situation I currently find myself in!", so you might want to keep the manual with you, or download the pdf and put it on your phone or whatever.

Oh, and if you want to see the DOF (it's Depth of Field, not Field of Depth) in action, set the lens to its longest, focus on something really close, and set the aperture to a big number, at least f/11. Watch the out-of-focus parts in the viewfinder as you push the button.

NSXType-R said:
Do any of you guys really use those functions (other than those who shoot video)?

I don't remember ever needing it.

Everyone's got their own way of working NSXType-R, personally I never use AF-L but I do use AE-L when needed...I've never used Shutter Priority or Program, I use Aperture Priority and Manual.
Yeah and Cold Hands Luke is right, study your manual.

I wish you could set the fn button for iso...
Focus lock is great in pitch dark situations when your subject is holding their cell phone for you to focus on before you snap the shot and your speedlights trigger.

Drab said:
All the time.
I have the AE/AF-L button mapped to AE only. Allows one to meter for one object, lock, recompose, focus fire.

Mine is set to lock both focus and exposure. I have been thinking of setting the fn but have not done so due to laziness and cant decide what to set it to(several options I would like to set but because of procrastination I have not done so! :-) )

Gareth said:
you can. set the function button to "the top item in my menu" and make iso the top item in my menu and you're done.

very useful when you have a long lens on.

That will only make it appear on the lcd, correct? I only had five minutes to play with it before work. Id like to be able to use it in the view finder. The current button I have to press to change it is cumbersome to get to while viewing through the viewfinder

fell_brook said:
That will only make it appear on the lcd, correct? I only had five minutes to play with it before work. Id like to be able to use it in the view finder. The current button I have to press to change it is cumbersome to get to while viewing through the viewfinder

yes, it will only be on the lcd, but it means you can keep your left hand on your lens.